Softball squad seeded second at AE tourney

The University of Maine softball team earned the second seed in the America East tournament and will play its first game versus the winner of Albany and Hartford at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12, in Binghamton, New York.

The Black Bears should be confident heading into the contest as nine players earned accolades at the annual league banquet Tuesday night.

Catcher Janelle Bouchard was named AE Player of the Year, Erin Bogdanovich was named Pitcher of the Year and Alyssa Derrick, who plays third, was named the Rookie of the Year.

Bouchard and Bogdanovich were each named to the America East all-conference first team while Derrick, pitcher Molly Flowers, shortstop Felicia Lennon, outfielder Rachel Harvey and outfielder Erika Leonard were second team selections.

Derrick, utility player Maddie Decker and second base player Meghan Royle all were chosen for the All-Rookie squad.

Leonard and Bouchard also earned America East All-Academic honors. Leonard is a nursing major with a 3.79 GPA and Bouchard is a child development and family relations major with a 3.42 GPA.

UMaine, which won five of its last six regular-season contests, enters postseason play with a 25-19 record, 12-5 in league play. The 25 wins are the most for the Black Bears since 2009.

The Black Bears and top-seeded Binghamton received first-round byes. In the regular season, the Black Bears bested the Binghamton Bearcats in two of three contests, winning 3-0 and 2-1 and losing 7-3.

The six-team double-elimination tournament gets underway Wednesday, May 11, and concludes Saturday, May 14. Host Binghamton is the No. 1 seed with a 14-3 league record. UMaine is No. 2 (12-5), Albany is No. 3 (11-5), Stony Brook is No. 4 (11-6), UMBC is No. 5 (5-11) and Hartford is No. 6 (2-14).

UMaine, coached by Mike Coutts, last won the AE Tournament in 2004. The Black Bears also won in 1994.

America East will stream games live.